$42,000 in illicit nicotine products seized in Castlegar and Nelson
RCMP says search warrants were executed at two businesses as part of an investigation into contraband nicotine pouches
A nicotine pouch canister and pouches. The image is illustrative and does not show products seized in Castlegar or Nelson.
Photo credit: U.S. Food and Drug Administration/Public domain.
NELSON — RCMP officers seized about $42,000 worth of illicit nicotine products from two businesses in Castlegar and Nelson during an investigation into the sale of contraband nicotine pouches.
Nelson RCMP said officers, assisted by B.C. Highway Patrol, executed search warrants Sept. 16 at two commercial businesses, one in Castlegar and one in Nelson.
The Sept. 22 RCMP release did not identify either business or provide their addresses.
Investigators believe many of the seized products were counterfeit and designed to resemble established brands, according to RCMP. The release did not specify the brands, number of packages or nicotine concentrations involved.
The investigation remains underway. RCMP said any charges are subject to further investigation and review and approval by the Public Prosecution Service of Canada.
Nicotine pouches sold legally in Canada are regulated by Health Canada as nicotine-replacement therapy products. Products containing four milligrams of nicotine or less per dosage unit can be authorized as non-prescription natural health products, while products containing more than four milligrams per dosage unit are prescription drugs.
Non-prescription nicotine pouches must still receive Health Canada authorization before they can legally be sold. Licensed natural health products carry an eight-digit Natural Product Number, or NPN.
Federal rules also restrict where nicotine pouches can be sold. Pouches are not among the nicotine-replacement products Health Canada allows customers to select directly from store shelves, and their sale is limited to pharmacists or people working under pharmacist supervision. They must be kept where customers cannot select them without assistance.
Health Canada also limits flavours for these pouch products to mint, menthol or a combination of the two. The federal government introduced the restrictions in 2024 as part of measures intended to reduce youth access to and appeal of nicotine-replacement products.
Unauthorized nicotine products have not been assessed by Health Canada for safety, efficacy and quality.
The RCMP release does not say that every product seized in Castlegar and Nelson was counterfeit. Police said investigators believe many were counterfeit, while federal rules can also make nicotine pouches unlawful to sell if they are not authorized for the Canadian market or are offered through a retail channel that is not permitted to sell them.
The Sept. 22 release identifies Nelson RCMP and B.C. Highway Patrol as the agencies involved in the operation. It does not identify Health Canada or provincial health authorities as participants and does not report fines, licence action or other regulatory penalties.
The names of the businesses, the exact products seized and the specific offences investigators may recommend for prosecution have not been provided in the RCMP release.
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